These rules are promulgated by DanceSport Australia and shall be known as the Rules of DanceSport also referred to herein as the rules.

DanceSport Australia or DSA means DanceSport Australia Limited, ACN 085 929 835 a company limited by guarantee.

2.1 These rules are applicable to all members of DanceSport Australia and to those persons or organisations or affiliate members that hold registrations or accreditations from DanceSport Australia.

2.2 To the extent permitted under law, the rules are also applicable to all other non-registered members of the DanceSports fraternity, including spectators, at all registered DanceSports competitions throughout Australia and its Territories or Dependencies.

2.3 Disciplinary action against a person or body corporate that is not a member of DSA or who does not hold a registration with DSA, shall be carried out as if the person or body corporate IS a member of DSA or holds a registration with DSA, during the whole of the period covered by the disciplinary action.

2.4 No disciplinary action shall be implemented against any person or organisation unless the relevant procedures for hearing complaints and appeals (where an appeal is made) have been followed. This includes persons or organisations who are not members of DSA or who hold no registration with DSA.

2.5 If any rule is negated by a properly constituted court of law or is found to be invalid and not enforceable in accordance with its terms, the negation shall apply only in so far as the court’s jurisdiction provides and only to the rule negated. All other rules which are self-sustaining and capable of separate enforcement regarding the invalid rule shall continue to apply and be enforced in accordance with their own terms.

2.6 These rules shall be administered under the direction of the DSA National Board and thereafter by the respective Committees, or such other committees, organisations and appointees which DanceSport Australia may determine:

• Inquiries about these rules and complaints or protests on any matter should be made in the first instance to the DSA Ethics Committee.
• Should any point arise not covered by these rules, it shall be referred to the DSA Ethics Committee whose decision shall be binding.

2.7 Notwithstanding any other clause in these rules, the DSA National Board shall have the authority to make exemptions to these rules or to make special rules, but only for the specific purpose of meeting the conditions of a sponsorship, streaming/broadcasting media or other similar type agreement between DSA and a third party, where DSA is a primary beneficiary, and provided that the agreement itself complies with the objects of DSA as set out in the DSA Constitution.

3.1 Where any conflict arises in the interpretation or execution of these rules, as between these rules and any other rules, the following order of precedence shall apply:

• DSA Constitution
• DSA Policy
• A decision of the DSA National Board

4.1 The object of these rules is to provide an overall framework for the administration and management of the Competition Rules of DanceSport within Australia, in order to:

• Provide an equitable system of competition rules and guidelines for competitors that meet the changing needs of the DanceSport environment
• Provide a responsive approach to the resolution of appeals and disputes.
• Provide for an efficient system for the registration and administration of DanceSport competitions.
• Provide for an efficient and equitable set of guidelines for promoters and organisers of DanceSport competitions.
• Promote the condemnation of the use of performance-enhancing drugs by enforcing current drug and doping policies laid down by the Australian Sports Commission.
• Not to be inconsistent with, and to promote Australia's interests concerning, international agreements and conventions relating to, the administration of DanceSport.

5.1 The Constitution of DanceSport Australia provides for a DSA Ethics Committee, which may act as an appeals committee or as a dispute arbitration committee.

• At its absolute discretion, the DSA National Board may refer disputes over the interpretation of these rules to the DSA Ethics Committee.
• Other disputes and appeals shall be referred to the DSA Ethics Committee in accordance with these rules.

5.2 Any member organisation has the right to refer any dispute or complaint directly to Sports Integrity Australia.

5.3 Any dispute or difference whatsoever arising out of, or in connection with these rules, which is not covered by a disciplinary and/or an appeal procedure, shall be submitted to mediation in accordance with, and subject to, the mediation process of Sports Integrity Australia.

5.4 It is a condition of any DSA registration or other dealings between DSA and a third party arising out of or in connection with these rules, that the registered person, partnership or body corporate, or other third party, shall have agreed to first follow the relevant disciplinary and appeal procedures set out in these rules, or otherwise the mediation process referred to in Rule 5.3, in respect of any dispute or difference arising out of or in connection with these rules.

6.1 Any changes to these rules must first be recommended to the DSA National Board by the DSA Chairperson Committee and have previously been set out in an agenda for a meeting of the DSA National Board.

6.2 Any rule change deemed necessary by the DSA National Board, the DSA National Board should first seek input from the DSA Chairperson Committee before implementation.

6.3 Rule changes can be proposed to the DSA Chairperson Committee by:

• A DSA member, by submission to the DSA Chairperson Committee who, in deciding to endorse any such proposal, may accept, reject or, in consultation with the proposer, amend the proposal. Such proposals will only be accepted for assessment by the DSA Chairperson Committee, with an endorsement from:
• A DSA National Director, or
• The DSA National Board, or
• A member of the DSA Chairperson Committee

6.4 DSA National Board may accept, amend or reject the recommendation from the DSA Chairperson Committee, and further may direct the DSA Chairperson Committee to review the recommendation, considering the recommendation(s) of the DSA National Board.

6.5 Nothing in the foregoing Section 6 shall affect the rights of the DSA National Board, under the Constitution, to inter alia make, alter, and repeal any by-law, policy statement and other directive as it may deem necessary or expedient for the proper conduct and management of DanceSport in Australia.

6.6 Notwithstanding anything stated anywhere else in these rules, any revision of, addition to or deletion from the rules must comply with the provisions of the DSA Constitution. Where there is inconsistency, the provisions of the DSA Constitution will be paramount.

In these rules, unless otherwise specified:

AIS means the Australian Institute of Sport established by the Australian Sports Commission Act of 1989.

AOC means the Australian Olympic Committee, the National Olympic Committee for Australia recognised by the IOC.

ASC means the Australian Sports Commission established by the Australian Sports Commission Act 1989.

Assistant Instructor means a DSA Member who holds a current DSA Assistant Instructor qualification.

Athlete means a person who holds a current DSA Athlete Licence.

Australia means all States, Territories and External Territories in Australia.

Chairperson of Adjudicators is a DSA Member who holds a DSA Chairpersons qualification.

Chairperson Committee (CC) is a Committee established by the DSA National Board under the DSA Constitution.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) means the Chief Executive Officer of DSA.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) means the Chief Financial Officer of DSA.

Championship means a competition title so designated by DSA.

Championship Adjudicator means a DSA Member who holds a DSA Championship Adjudicator qualification.

Coach means a DSA Member who holds a DSA Coach qualification.

Coach/Student means a partnership in which one partner is a current financial DSA registered Accredited Instructor or Coach and the other is a Student who is a current financial registered DSA competitor, and does not hold a Level 1 or higher Coach Accreditation. Students with Level 0 Accreditation must choose to compete either as a Coach or a Student and not both.

Competition means a DanceSport program of events conducted under DSA Rules.

Competition Adjudicator means a DSA Member who holds a DSA Competition Adjudicator qualification.

Competitor means a person who enters, or seeks to enter, a competition.

Couple means a team consisting of two people dancing together when competing in any Division of Competition. For the purpose of a DanceSport competition, a person may nominate their gender.

CPD means the continuing professional development requirements for accredited members as defined by the DSA Education Committee and/or approved by the DSA National Board.

DanceSport means dance styles performed in competition.

Dance Studio means an institution that is clearly definable as having the following four elements: a dance teacher or teachers, regularly attended premises, a regular group of students and the teaching of dance.

Day Pass (also see Social Day Pass) is a temporary registration of a person so that they can experience the introductory DanceSport events in the Under 16 and Recreational Divisions. Competitors cannot hold both a Social Day Pass, and a Day pass at the same time.

Division means the following designated categories where registered competitors are grouped together by age group to compete against each other:

- Dance Up Division

1. Under 16 Division Competitor – means a current financial registered competitor who qualifies for the time being, to compete in the Under 16 Division which may include the following age sub-divisions
   1. Sub-Juvenile
   2. Juvenile
   3. Junior
2. Recreational Division Competitor – means a current financial registered competitor who enters or seeks to enter a Recreational Division event within a competition registered with DSA (other than Novelty events) and is not an Amateur or Professional Division competitor (Recreational restrictions apply). The Recreational Division may include the following age sub-divisions:
   1. Under 21
   2. Adult
   3. Masters 1, 2, 3 and 4
3. Amateur Division Competitor – means a current financial registered competitor who qualifies for the time being, to compete in the Amateur Division which may include the following age sub-divisions:
   1. Under 21
   2. Adult
   3. Masters 1, 2, 3 and 4
4. Professional Division Competitor – means a current financial registered Professional competitor who enters, or seeks to enter, a Professional Division within a competition registered with DSA.

Doping means the use of a substance or method that is potentially dangerous to health and/or capable of artificially enhancing performance in DanceSports competitions.

DSA and DanceSport Australia means DanceSport Australia Limited ACN 085 929 835 (a company limited by guarantee) and includes its successors and assigns.

Duo Events means an event where two individuals of the same gender, dancing the same choreography.

Level 3 (Elite Coach) means a DSA Member who holds a DSA Elite Coach qualification.

Ethics Committee (EC) is a Committee established by the DSA National Board under the DSA Constitution.

Festival means a competition title so designated by DSA.

Event means individual events listed within a DanceSports competition conducted under one overall competition title.

In writing or written means communication via hard copy, email or through the official DSA website, to the DSA Sports Director or Chairperson of Adjudicators.

Instructor means a DSA Member who holds a DSA Instructor qualification.

International Adjudicator is a person who holds an active accreditation with an international organisation recognised by DSA.

IOC means the International Olympic Committee being an organisation entrusted with the control, development and promotion of the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement worldwide.

Marketing Committee (MC) is a Committee established by the DSA National Board under the DSA Constitution.

Member means a current financial member in any of the membership categories of DSA as set out in the DSA Constitution.

Month means calendar month.

National Championship Adjudicator means a DSA Member who holds a DSA National Adjudicator qualification.

National Office means DSA Head Office as determined by the DSA National Board.

Novelty Event means any event other than those requiring competitors to be registered with DSA who are invited to enter an event on the day of competition.

Organiser means the person nominated by a promoter who is responsible for the conduct of a DSA registered competition.

Official DanceSport Australia Website means the website www.dancesport.org.au

Partner means a person combining with another person, for the time being, as a competition partnership.

Professional Adjudicator is a DSA Member who holds a DSA National Championship qualification and is retired from regular coaching.

Professional Division Adjudicator is an adjudicator who has notified DSA that they are no longer competing in Professional Division Couple competitions. This retirement does not include Pro/Am competitions.

Pro/Am means a couple in which one person is a current financial registered Professional Division competitor and the other person is a current financial registered Under 16 or Amateur Division competitor.

Pro/Recreational Student means a partnership in which one partner is a current financial DSA Professional Division competitor and the other is a Student who is a current financial registered DSA competitor in the Recreational Division.

Pro/Student means a partnership in which one partner is a current financial DSA registered Professional Division competitor and the other is a Student who is a current financial registered DSA competitor, and does not hold a Level 1 or higher Coach Accreditation. Students with Level 0 Accreditation must choose to compete either as a Coach or a Student and not both.

Promoter means and includes the person, partnership or body corporate who:

1. is responsible for the financial outcome of a competition (including the payment of prizes and expenses) and/or
2. authorises the issuing of advertisements or invitations to compete in a competition, and/or
3. otherwise claims some proprietary rights in the goodwill attached to a competition title.

Registered Competition means and includes any competition, championship, cup, trophy, festival or group of competitions organised, promoted and conducted in Australia under one main title or competition name and which is registered in a manner approved by the DSA National Board.

Registered Teaching Facility (RTF) is a dance studio and/or teaching institution or registered business that is currently registered by DSA having met the requirements of the Registered Teaching Facility Policy as ratified by the DSA National Board.

Registered Training Organisation (RTO) is an organisation registered as such by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).

Rules means the Rules of DanceSport as amended from time to time, and, unless specifically noted in the context, includes all and any part of the Rules of DanceSport.

Scrutineer is a DSA Member who holds a DSA Scrutineers qualification.

Showdance means a choreographed DanceSport performance up to four minutes in length that must remain clearly based on Latin or Standard dances, include recognisable dance content (typically 3–5 dances), and balance technical dancing with theatrical elements such as lifts, storytelling, and presentation.

Skating System means the approved international system of defining the result of DanceSports competitions.

Social Day Pass (also see Day Pass) is a temporary registration of a person so that they can experience the introductory DanceSport events. Social Day Passes allow users to enter those events that a competition organiser has deemed a beginner/grass roots level. Competitors cannot hold both a Social Day Pass, and Day pass at the same time.

Solo Events are events where an individual dances on their own and is adjudicated.

Sports Director refers to a person appointed by the DSA National Board to guide the development of DanceSport competitions, liaise between DSA and competition organisers and supervise the implementation of DSA Rules and Policies as they apply to competitions.

State Committee means the committee of management of a State established pursuant to the DSA Constitution.

State Chairperson means and includes any person who is elected by the State Committee members, to manage the affairs of the State Committee.

State Committee Member means and includes any person who is elected by the State Members.

State Executive Officer means a person appointed by the State Committee to carry out secretarial and general administration/management duties as required by the State Committee.

Student is a person who is a current financial DSA member registered as an Under 16 Division, Recreational Division or Amateur Division competitor and does not hold a Level 1 or higher Coach Accreditation. Students with Level 0 Accreditation must choose to compete either as a Coach or a Student and not both.

Style means the dance genre or discipline required for a particular event. Styles may include Standard (also referred to as Ballroom), Latin (also referred to as Latin American), New Vogue, Smooth, Rhythm, or any other defined Dance genre.

Trainer is a DSA Member who holds a DSA Trainer qualification.

Unregistered Competition means a competition that has not been registered with DSA.

WDSF means the World DanceSport Federation, of which DSA is a member.

Other terms not specifically defined in these rules have the same meaning as in the DSA Constitution.